25 Feb THE BIBAS BABIES; THE KERUVIM AND THE CRY OF A MOTHER

The heartbreaking
tragedy of the Bibas
babies has shattered
Jewish communities
around the world,
leaving us to grapple
with immense sorrow and loss. At its core,
what devastated so many was the image of
a mother desperately trying to protect her
children as they placed their trust in her to
do so. In their eyes, she was their entire
hope, and she did everything in her power
to shield them. This sacred bond between
parent and child should never be broken—
let alone through the horrific act of
murdering both mother and children.
Our parasha discusses this very idea—the
relationship between a father and his
children, Hashem and Am Yisrael. It begins
with the construction of the Mishkan, the
sacred dwelling place of Hashem’s
presence among Bnei Yisrael.
The rabbis explain that the Mishkan is
compared to the human body, with each of
its components corresponding to different
organs and functions. Just as the heart is the
most vital organ of the body—serving as

the central force that sustains life—so too,
the Mishkan had a “heart.”
This heart was located at the very center of
the Mishkan, in the holiest place of all: the
Kodesh HaKodashim. It was here that the
Aron HaKodesh rested, housing the Luchot
HaBrit. Above the Aron stood two golden
Keruvim, depicted as young children facing
one another. These Keruvim symbolized
the deep relationship between Hashem and
Bnei Yisrael, expressing the divine
connection at the core of the Mishkan.
Just as the human heart continuously
pumps life throughout the body, the Kodesh
HaKodashim served as the spiritual heart
of the Mishkan, radiating holiness and
closeness to Hashem to the entire nation.
The Keruvim were depicted as young
children to symbolize innocence, purity,
and the potential for growth. Children also
represent natural connection to their
parents, untainted by the complexities and
distractions of adulthood.
Additionally, the relationship between
Hashem and Bnei Yisrael is often compared
to that of a parent and child. Just as a child

looks to their parent with trust
and dependence, Bnei Yisrael
are able to rely on Hashem with
faith and devotion knowing
well that He would never let us
down. The image of the
Keruvim, facing each other
with their wings spread above,
conveys the closeness and love
that define this relationship.
Thus, the reason the Bibas
family touched hearts around
the world is rooted in the deep
connection between a child and
their parents, reflected in the
heart of the Mishkan. Of
course, saying it touched all
hearts assumes one has a
heart—unlike those whose
hearts merely pump blood but
lack true humanity feelings.
After addressing the emotions
we all felt, let’s consider: What
does Hashem feel about this?
Do we have any indication, or
are we left to guess?
Interestingly, Parashat Mishpatim, which
we just read, offers insight into a similar
story from our history—the enslavement of
the Jewish people in Egypt—and reveals
the deep compassion with which Hashem
views the suffering of His people,
especially babies.
At the end of the parasha, we learn about
the seventy elders of Israel who ascended
Mount Sinai and received a vision of
Hashem. They saw that beneath His feet
was a sapphire brick. Rashi explains why
Hashem had a brick beneath His feet,
teaching that it was to constantly remember
the suffering of Bnei Yisrael, who were
enslaved in Mitzrayim and forced to labor
with bricks.
The Zohar expands on this and reveals an
even more devastating dimension to the
story. The brick Hashem kept with Him
was not just an ordinary brick; it carried a
tragic story. A Jewish woman in Egypt
gave birth, and when the Egyptian
overseers discovered it, they took the baby
and embedded him within a brick as it was
being formed. This is the brick Hashem
kept before Him—to remember the cruelty
of the Egyptians and the unbearable
suffering of His people.
The Zohar adds that Hashem kept the brick
with Him until the destruction of the Beit
HaMikdash.

Although Hashem feels the pain of all His
children, both young and old, He
specifically chose to keep by Him the brick
that serves as a reminder of a baby’s
suffering. This may be because of what we
have explained- The pain of a child being
torn from their mother is not just a historical
tragedy—it is something deeply personal to
Hashem.
But why did Hashem keep the brick only
until the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash?
We can explain that once the Beit
HaMikdash was destroyed, He no longer
needed a brick to remind Him of the pain of
a parent being separated from their child—
because He was now experiencing it
Himself. The devastating feeling of
separation from Klal Yisrael was no longer
just a memory but a present reality.
But there are also consequences to
Hashem’s painful experience of keeping
the brick with Him. When the time for
retribution arrived, the Egyptians felt the
full force of divine justice. They endured
ten unbearable plagues that devastated their
land, culminating in their annihilation as
they were drowned in the sea. We can rest
assured that when the time comes—and we
pray it is soon—Hashem will ensure that
those who committed these horrific crimes,
those who aided them, and those who
cheered them on will face the full measure
of justice for their wickedness.